Pinellas Sheriff: Deputy Fired for Using Excessive Force

The deputy also falsified a report, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

PINELLAS COUNTY – A deputy was fired Friday (Nov. 18) after investigators found he had used excessive force against a woman during an arrest and falsified a police report, the Pinellas County sheriff said.

Wayne Wagner, 28, had worked for the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office since Oct. 20, 2014.

The firing stemmed from a lawful traffic stop Wagner made about 9:40 p.m. March 25. Sheriff’s investigators said Wagner made the traffic stop at the Mobil gas station, 10021 4th St. N in St. Petersburg. After arresting the woman driver on a charge of felony driving on a suspended license, Wagner told her get out of the vehicle.

Investigators say that she got out and took her license back from Wagner. When the woman turned to walk away, Wagner pushed the woman into the side of the vehicle and took her to the ground. Wagner charged the woman with battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer with violence.

Wagner alleged that the woman aggressively approached him, ripped her license from his hand and shoved him in the chest area. Wagner documented these allegations in a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office offense report, deputies said.

Administrative investigation division investigators received a complaint following the arrest of the woman and they began their investigation. They watched the dash cam video of the incident and surveillance video from the gas station. Deputies said that the investigation substantiated that Wagner used excessive force to arrest the woman and that he falsified a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office offense report to support his allegations.

For a video of a press conference with Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri that shows both the dash cam and surveillance tapes, go to youtube.com.